Device for positioning a patient

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for supporting and positioning a patient including a support on which the patient is seated that is rotatable about a horizontal axis and also movable vertically to vary the distance to said axis.

nited States Patent James 1 Mar. 28, W72

[54] DEVICE FOR POSITIONING A PATIENT Reteeeueee Cited [72] Inventor: Pierre Lucien Jules James, Saint Gratien, UNITED STATES PATENTS ram 3,504,179 3/1970 Hainault ..2so/ss Assisneei Philips Corporation, New York, N 3,506,826 4/1970 Kosters ..2s0/ss 3,043 953 7/1962 Craig et al... .250/58 X Fl (1. F b. 20,1970 [22] 6 3,141,972 7/l964 Oller ..2so/s5 [21] Appl. No.: 13,105 3,449,569 6/1969 Oller ..250/50 Prima Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz P i i 'y [30] Foreign Application r or ty Dam Assistant Examiner-David R Melton Feb. 24, 1969 France ..6904704 n p k R T if i [52] US. Cl ..269/322 57 ABSTRACT 51 1.11.01 ..A6lg 13/00 58 Field of Search ..269/322-326, 32s; Apparatus for Supporting and p s a Patient Including a 250 50 54 53 support on which the patient is seated that is rotatable about a horizontal axis and also movable vertically to vary the distance to said axis.

8 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDmzs m2 INVENTOR. PIERRE L.J. JAMES DEVICE FOR POSITIONING A PATIENT The invention relates to a device for positioning a patient, said device comprising a carriage movable in a plane and having a column orientated transversely of said plane and a pctients support.

Such a device is known from French Pat. Specification No. l,53l,86l and is used particularly for radiation therapy. In this device the patient can be turned about a vertical body axis, while the patients support can perform a rotation in a plane going through the vertical body axis. This device comprises many parts which have to perform complicated movements relative to each other.

The present invention has for its object to provide a possibility of performing the desired movements of a patient by simpler means, and is characterized in that the patients support is arranged on a beam which is connected with the column so as to be rotatable about an axis parallel to the plane of movement, there being provided means for adjusting the distance between the patients support and the rotary axis.

The device according to this invention comprises fewer relatively movable parts, so that a comparatively rigid assembly is obtained. As a result the part of the patients body to be treated occupies a more accurately defined position after the movements required for the examination.

One embodiment of the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The FIGURE shows a chair for supporting a patient during X-ray examination in accordance with the invention. The patients support may be formed by a chair or seat 1, the back of which may be inclined between 100 and and be in line with the seat for a horizontal position of the patient. The chair is fastened to the horizontal end 2a of a beam 2. The beams other end 2b which is vertical in the rest position, and is mounted on a rotary shaft 3, the horizontal center line of which corresponds with the axis AA passing through the region of the patient to be observed (in the FIGURE ventricles of the head), said rotary shaft being arranged on a vertical column 4, which is secured to a horizontal carriage or base 5.

The vertical face of the end 2b is provided for the shaft 3 with a slide 6 for the vertical displacement of the beam 2 relative to the shaft 3, which displacement is limited by the bent over rim of the slide 6. This permits regulating the patients position relative to the axis AA'.

The shaft 3 is rotatable with variable speed for example, by a direct-current motor (not shown) while the rotary movement is self-arresting. The rotation may also be performed manually, which may be required in the case of emergency.

If the X-ray apparatus is also rotatable about an axis perpendicular to AA in order to allow a more elaborate examination, the two rotary, relatively independently controlled movements are preferably synchronized.

The device allows in addition three further movements:

A rotary movement of the chair around the axis BB, which is normal to AA and passes through the region to be examined; the patients position is then obtained by varying the inclined position of the back of the chair and by adjusting the position of the head support (not shown).

A displacement along the floor in the direction of the double arrow, the carriage being provided with ground wheels 7, which may be guided by rails 8. A centering device (not shown) permits of obtaining accurately and rapidly the chosen place. The various movements are preferably performed by motor force and are self-arresting, while they may be assisted by hand.

In order to fix the patient to the seat self-locking belts (airplane belts) may be used. These belts are preferably attached to a plate which distributes the pressure and which permits adjusting the patient rapidly in the correct position. The head is held in a helmet (not shown), which is transparent to the radiation and is attached to the back of the chair.

When the range of the beam is chosen to be sufficiently large, this device will permit a simple operation for performing examinations in many directions. It is particularly suitable, for example, to be combined with a column support for a movable stand, provided with an X-ray tube and a radiation receiving device, as disclosed in French Pat. Specification No. 1,419,001.

The invention is not limited to the example described above, and modifications may be carried out within the scope of this invention, for example, in the shape of the chair, in the method of fixing the patient in place and, in the control of the patients position relative to the axis AA. Moreover, the choice of the horizontal plane for the carriage is not limiting, since the various axes maintain their positions relative to the plane of the carriage.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for supporting and positioning a person, comprising a base, a column extending upward from the base, first means for supporting a person s body, second means connecting the first means to said column and permitting both rotary motion therebetween about a generally horizontal first axis and relative vertical motion therebetween, whereby said first means is movable to position the persons body and particularly the persons head vertically relative to said first axis, and rotatably about said axis.

2. Apparatus for supporting and positioning a patient for an X-ray procedure, comprising a base, a column extending upward from the base, patient-supporting first means which is engaged to the column, is rotatable about a generally horizontal first axis and is movable vertically relative to said first axis, seat means on the first means which is rotatable about a vertical axis.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first means engages a slide member, the slide engages a rotary shaft, and the shaft engages said column, whereby slide and shaft respectively permit said vertical and rotary movement of the first means relative to the column.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said base is movable laterally in a plane generally parallel to said horizontal axis.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a first part which engages said second means and a second part which is rotatable relative to the first part about a vertical second axis.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first means is a generally L'shaped beam with the second part being a lateral leg forming a seat and the first part being vertical leg engaging said column via said second means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a seat engaged to said first means and rotatable about a vertical second axis, the seat being further pivotable about a generally horizontal third axis which is generally normal to said first and second axes.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said seat is pivotable through at least about said horizontal third axis. 

1. Apparatus for supporting and positioning a person, comprising a base, a column extending upward from the base, first means for supporting a person''s body, second means connecting the first means to said column and permitting both rotary motion therebetween about a generally horizontal first axis and relative vertical motion therebetween, whereby said first means is movable to position the person''s body and particularly the person''s head vertically relative to said first axis, and rotatably about said axis.
 2. Apparatus for supporting and positioning a patient for an X-ray procedure, comprising a base, a column extending upward from the base, patient-supporting first means which is engaged to the column, is rotatable about a generally horizontal first axis and is movable vertically relative to said first axis, seat means on the first means which is rotatable about a vertical axis.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first means engages a slide member, the slide engages a rotary shaft, and the shaft engages said column, whereby slide and shaft respectively permit said vertical and rotary movement of the first means relative to the column.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said base is movable laterally in a plane generally parallel to said horizontal axis.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a first part which engages said second means and a second part which is rotatable relative to the first part about a vertical second axis.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first means is a generally L-shaped beam with the second part being a lateral leg forming a seat and the first part being a vertical leg engaging said column via said second means.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a seat engaged to said first means and rotatable about a vertical second axis, the seat being further pivotable about a generally horizontal third axis which is generally normal to said first and second axes.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said seat is pivotable through at least 100* about said horizontal third axis. 